Improvement in potato-diggers



2 Sheets-Sheet l. A

I Potato Digger No. 108,490. Pate-11188001. 18, 1870.

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Potato Digger.

No.v 108,490. Patented Oct. 18, 1870.

'rwETERs PNOTWUTMOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON, Dv C.

tlnted Quatre @attent (attire.

MELVIN W. KNOX, OF SHERIDAN, NEW\YORK.

Letters Patent No. 108,490, dated October 18, 1870.

IMPROVKEMENT IN POTATO-DIGGERS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same To all whom t may concer-n:

York, have invented a new and valuable Improvement 'in Potato-Diggers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawing is a representation of a central vertical longitudinal section of my invention.

Figure 2 is a top view of the same.

Figures 3 and 4 are details.

My invention relates to potato-diggers, and consists in a novel construction and arrangement of devices intended to serve as an etlicient apparatus for the pn rpose mentioned.

A A of the drawing represents the wheels of my carriage firmly attached to theaxle B, and rotating therewith. v

C represents a triangular frame arranged upon the axle B, in the manner shown.

D represents the carriage map pivoted inthe slotted standard of the scoop E, and between the front ends of the side )ieces ofthe frame as shown -while its rear end passes to the rear ot' the frame, and serves as a lever to regulate the depth of the scoop-furrow, as mentioned hereafter.

I arrange a standard, F, upon the rear cross-bar of the frame, which serves as the drivers seat, and, being slotted, as shown on iig. l, serves also as a guide and support for the rear end of the map D.

-G represents a large coggcd wheel iirmly attached to the carriage axle.

The letter (t represent-s a pinion working upon and with the shaft H, and engaging with the cogs of wheel G.

Immediately forward of the H I attach tov the end of said o on the drawing.

To this crank I attach a vpitman, a, which passes therefrom vto the top of the pivoted lever m.v

This lever an, being pivoted at the point s, and united at its lower end with the shaker K in the rear of the scoop, serves to producca vibrating movement in said shaker whenever the carriage is moved suliiciently to rotate the axle.

The letter u represents a baud or cord passing over a suitable drum or groove in the axle, and also over a pully, vv, upon the transverse shaft y.

P represents an elbow-lever pivoted, as shown, to4

front bearing of shaft shaft a crank, marked standard F, while the two sections of the arms are pivoted together at thepoint z.

The transverse shaftg/ is extended to the right of its pulley or drum, and has its right-hand bearing in the right side piece of theframe; I mean to the right hand of the drivers seat when I use that term.

Between the drum on said shaft yand its right-hand bearing, I form said shaft in the shape of a crank, the pin ot which passes through the forearm of the elbow-lever P, and, as the shaft rotates, forces said forearm to perform a circuitous movement, so as toA bring the lower end thereof down near the surface of the shaker and scoop, and toss the potato-topsland other vines forward from said shaker and out of the way.

My machine is operated as follows, namely:

The team is attached to the map, and the carriage set in motion. The scoop is passed under the potatohill, and the potatoes, with the earth, are carried to the rear of the scoop and upon the shaker. As the forward movement of the carriage necessarily places all the machinery in motion, the lever an imparts to the shaker a quick vibratory movement, thereby shaking the earth through -its fingers to the ground, and leaving the potatoes freed from dirt upon the surface of the soil.

1n the meantime, the forearm of the elbow-lever I is constantly at work tossing oli" the vines and aidingin the labor ot' separating the potatoes from the earth.

The operator regulates the depth ofthe furrows by raisin the rear end of the map up or down, at will.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The pvioted and extended .map D, when constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. rEhe pvoted forearm ot' the elbow-lever P, in

combination withthe shaft andcrank y, when con structed and arranged in a potato-digger, substantially as and for the purpose described. 3. In combination with the shaft H, crank c, and pitman n., the pivoted lever m, to operate `the shaker of a potato-digger, when constructed and arranged substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have herey unto subscribed my name in the presence of two wit- HBSSQS.

MELVIN W. KNOX. Witnesses: f

W. T. COLMAN, T. R. Comms. 

